Chimney vacuum cap assembly



Feb. 20, 1968 E. J. ARTIS ET CHIMNEY VACUUM CAP ASSEMBLY Filed July 1,1966 Fig.2

Edward J. Arfis Samuel W.Arfis. Jr.

IN VENTORS 40/23.

A Attorney:

Fig .5

3,369,475 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 3,369,475 CHIMNEY VACUUM CAP ASSEMBLYEdward J. Artis, 1201 Harrison Blvd. 83702, and Samuel W. Artis, Jr.,1202 S. Orchard 83705, both of Boise,

Idaho Filed July 1, 1966, Ser. No. 562,270 8 Claims. (Cl. 9866) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention generally appertains toimprovements in ventilator and chimney covers or caps and, moreparticularly, relates to novel improvements in vacuum caps for chimneys,of the type disclosed in prior Artis patents, Nos. 2,191,948, issuedFeb. 27, 1940, and 2,676,- 529, issued Apr. 27, 1954.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a chimneyvacuum cap assembly, which is much simpler, from a constructional andinstallation viewpoint, more efficient and reliable in operation andmore easily adjusted so as to be adaptable for proper operation, undervarious wind conditions.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved vacuum cap which is constructed so that the cost offabrication, from a material and labor standpoint, is drasticallyreduced and the installation and adjustment thereof can be carried outin a more facile manner.

In the foregoing patents, particularly Patent No. 2,676,- 529, a vacuumcap assembly is disclosed, which essentially comprises a tubular bodyportion adapted to be attached to a chimney, a generally U-shapedoverhead member, which overlies only the center of the Open upper end ofthe body portion and a cooperating series of overlapping gores disposedbetween the bight portion of the cover member and the upper end of thetubular body portion.

Such construction, while very efficient, is extremely complicated andthe cost of manufacture, considering the high cost of material andlabor, is very high and the cost to the consumer is very high,considering such foregoing factors, in addition to transportation andfreight costs. Furthermore, the movable gore assembly of suchconstruction is extremely complicated and the cover member does notserve the desired purpose, unless the complicated and multiple number ofsets of gore members are provided for overlapping positioning, inadjustable relationship, between the bight portion of the cover memberand the upper end of the tubular body, which must also be provided withadditional gores that are disposed below the upper end of the tubularbody.

In order to simplify such construction, thereby realizing substantialsavings in production costs and purchasing cost and the installation andadjustment of the vacuum cap, the construction of the present inventionhas been provided, which construction is extremely simple but highlyeffective for creating any desired amount of partial vacuum or draft inthe chimney, under any wind conditions, and for ensuring that gaseousair is exhausted from the chimney, irrespective of static air conditionsin the atmosphere surrounding the chimney.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the improved vacuum cap forchimneys of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyon the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of one of the U-shaped plates, shown inblank form, which forms part of the single gore assembly; and,

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a modified blank form.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the vacuumcap 10 is designed to be installed on the chimney (not shown) of abuilding.

The cap comprises a cylindrical or tubular body or body portion 12,having a longitudinal slit extending throughout its length with theedges of the slit overlapping each other. Ears 14 are struck outwardlyfrom the body, adjacent the overlapping edges, the ears being aperturedand being disposed in paired relationship so as to receive fastener orbolt assemblies 16, whereby the body portion may be securely clampedabout a chimney pipe (not shown).

The tubular body portion 12 has an open upper end 18. The open end 18 iscovered by the bight portion 20 of a substantially U-shaped top or covermember 22. The cover member 22 includes the bight portion 20 andopposing straight leg portions 24 and 26. The leg portions 24 and 26 arefixed at their lower free end portions 28 and 30 to the outside of thetubular body portion 12 at diametrically opposed points thereon, withthe portions 28 and 30 of the legs straddling the outside of the upperend of the tubular body at the diametrically opposed points.

The bight portion 20 of the cover member 22 is spaced above the upperend 18 of the tubular body 12 and held in such spaced relationshiptherewith by means of the secured lower or free end portions 28 and 30of the leg portions 24 and 26.

The bight portion 20 is of a width so that the opposing end edges 32 and34 thereof extend beyond the open end 18 and the ends of the edges 32and 34 are curved inwardly, merging into the inwardly tapered legportions 26 and 24, which terminate in the widthwise reduced free orlower end portions 28 and 30, as shown more particularly in FIGURE 1.

The free end portions 28 and 30 of the leg portions 24 and 26 are fixedto the outside of the tubular body portion, at diametrically opposedpoints at the upper end thereof by bolt assemblies 36 and 38, which arepositioned in side-by-side relationship.

A gore assembly 40 is disposed between the upper end 18 of the tubularbody 12 and the bight portion 20 of the cover member 22 and consistsonly of a pair of generally U-shaped plates 42 and 44. Each of theplates 42 and 44 is formed from a flat blank 46, as shown in FIGURE 5.The flat blank includes a straight edge 48 and an outer semi-circular orconvex edge 50, which is joined at its ends to the straight edge 48 bystraight ends 52, which are disposed normal to the straight edge 48. Theblank 46 is bent upon itself to produce the U-shaped configuration ofthe plates 42 and 44. The plates are disposed in cooperatingrelationship and are interposed, in such relationship, be tween thebight portion 20 of the cover or top member 22 and the open upper end 18of the tubular body 12, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The straight edges 48 constitute the inner edges of the plates, whilethe curved or convex edges 50 define the outer edges of the plate, whichedges project beyond the edges 32 and 34 of the cover member, in all ofthe lowered positions of the gore assembly, as shown in FIGURE 3, andwhich overlap the upper end of the body 12 at diametrically opposedpoints, as shown in FIGURE 3, the extending edges 50 being disposed atright angle to the leg portions 24 and 26 of the cover member.

The plates 42 and 44, which solely make up the gore assembly 40, arepivotally connected together by a bolt assembly or other suitablefastening means 54, above the upper end 18 of the body 12 and are joinedor fastened to the body by the bolt assemblies or fasteners 36 and 38.

The plates 42 and 44 are adjustable, relative to each other about thepivot point, defined by the fastening means 54, when the fasteners 36and 38 are slightly loosened. In this regard, the shanks of the bolts ofthe fasteners 36 and 38 are adapted to be positioned in radial slots 56and 58 which are formed in the plates, as shown in FIGURE 5, and whichpass through the concave peripheral outer edge 50 of each of the plates.

A somewhat modified form of gore plate construction is shown in FIGURE6, wherein the blank 46a has a straight edge 48a and a generallyscalloped outer edge 50a. The outer edge 50a is made up of a centrallydisposed rounded edge which is inwardly sloped, at its ends 50 andconnected by the straight edges 52a to the straight edge 48a. The plate46a is formed with the slots 56a, similar to the slots 56.

The plates 46 and 46a are formed with apertures 58,

which receive the shanks of the fastener bolt assembly 54.

It is to be noted that the vacuum cap is composed only of the tubularbody, which is corrugated, so that it has reinforcing and rigidifyingridges 62 and a generally U- shaped cover member 22, which is alsorigidified with ridges 64 and the corrugated and rigidified plates 42and 44, which make up the adjustable gore assembly, interposed betweenthe bight portion of the cover member 22 and the open upper end of thetubular body 12.

It can thus be seen that an extremely simple vacuum cap assembly isprovided, which can be fabricated and assembled, in an inexpensivemanner from a material and labor cost standpoint, since it is composedof a minimum of parts. The cap assembly consists only of the tubularbody, which is clamped on the top of a chimney, the U- shaped covermember and the gore assembly, which consists only of the pair ofcooperating plate 42 and 44. The adjustable mounting of the goreassembly and the relationship thereof to the upper open end 18 of thebody and the cover member are important factors, as is the constructionand relationship of the bight portion of the cover member to the goreassembly and to the open end 18 of the body 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A chimney cap comprising a tubular body having means carried therebyfor attaching it on a chimney, said body being disposed vertically andhaving an open upper end, a substantially U-shaped top cover memberhaving a bight portion and opposing leg portions, means fastening theleg portions to the outside of the body adjacent the upper end so as toposition the bight portion in overlying covering relation with the upperend, said bight portion being spaced vertically above the upper end anda gore assembly interposed between the cover member and the upper end ofthe body, said gore asembly consisting only of one pair of substantiallyU-shaped plates, said plates having opposing leg portions disposed inoverlying relation,

and secured to the body by the fastening means for the leg portions ofthe cover member, said fastening means being releasable to permitrelative movement of the gore plates inwardly and outwardly about theconnecting means with respect to the cover member and the upper end ofthe body.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said bight portion of the covermember is of a width. to completely overlie the open upper end of thebody.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said bight portion has opposing endedges disposed beyond the upper end of the body said leg portions of thecover member being substantially narrow with respect to the bightportion.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein each of said plates comprising thegore assembly is formedwith an outer edge adapted to project beyond theend edges of the bight portion of the cover member.

5. A chimney cap comprising a tubular body having means carried therebyfor, attaching it on a chimney, said body being disposed vertically andhaving an open upper end, a substantially U-shaped top cover memberhaving a bight portion and opposing leg portions, means fastening theleg portions to the outside of the body adjacent the upper end so as toposition the bight portion in overlying covering relation with the upperend, said bightportion being spaced vertically above the upper end, anda gore assembly interposed between the cover member and the upper end ofthe body, said gore assembly consisting only of one pair ofsubstantially U-shaped plates, said plates having opposing leg portionsdisposed in overlying relation, means releasably securing the legportions together for relative adjusted positioning, said overlappingleg portions being interposed between the leg portions of the covermember and the body and secured to the body by the fastening means forthe leg portions of the cover member, said fastening means beingreleasable to permit relative movement of the gore plates inwardly andoutwardly about the securing means with respect to the cover member andthe upper end of the body, said bight portion of the cover member beingof a width to completely overlie the open upper end of the body, saidbight portion having opposing end edges disposed beyond the upper end ofthe body, said leg portions of the cover member being substantiallynarrow with respect to the bight portion, each of said plates comprisingthe gore assembly being formed with an outer edge having a convexcentral portion adapted to project beyond the end edges of the bightportion of the. cover member, and said plates being disposed at rightangles to leg portions of the cover member.

6. A chimney cap comprising a tubular body having means carried therebyfor attaching it on a chimney,

said body being disposed vertically and having an open upper end, asubstantially. U-shaped top cover member having a bight portion andopposing leg portions, means i fastening the leg portions to the outsideof the body adjacent the upper end'so as to position the bight portionin overlying covering relation with the upper end, said bight portionbeing spaced vertically above the upper end, and a gore assemblyinterposed betweenthe cover member and the upper end of the body, saidgore assembly consisting only of one pair of substantially U-shapedplates, said plates having opposing leg portions disposed in overlyingrelation, means releasably securing the leg portions together forrelative adjusted positioning, said overlapping leg portions beinginterposed between the leg portions of the cover member and the body andsecured to the body by the fastening means for the leg portions of thecover member, said fastening means being releasable to permit relativemovement of the gore plates inwardly and outwardly about the securingmeans with respect to the cover member and the upper end of the body,the convex edges of the plates at the leg portions being formed withslots that are adapted to accommodate the fastening means and saidsecuring means includes a single bolt assembly connecting the legportions of the plates above the upper end of the body.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein each U-shaped top cover and goreassembly plate includes a plurality of corrugated ribs disposed abouttheir respective bight 10 portions.

8. The invention of claim 6, wherein said tubular body is furthercharacterized by a longitudinal slit extending the length thereof withthe slit edges overlapping each other, said means for attaching thetubular body on a chimney includes a plurality of apertured earprojections disposed in pairwise relation and extending outwardly fromsaid body, adjacent said overlapping edges, and a plurality of boltassemblies, each assembly fastening a corresponding pair of said earprojections for securely clamping said body about a chimney.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,366 4/1895 Cooper 98-66826,345 7/1906 Miller et al 98-66 2,191,948 2/1940 Artis 98-78 2,676,5294/1954 Artis 98-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,785 1894 Great Britain. 21,615 1904Great Britain. 435,050 9/1935 Great Britain. 479,029 3/ 1953 Italy.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.

